Nonpolitical Agencies Keep Public Trust

Visible service agencies that deliver everyday, apolitical benefits (parks, weather forecasts, mail) retain broad favorability across party lines, while enforcement and fiscal agencies (ICE, IRS) are much more polarizing and unpopular. The contrast suggests that the politics of perception — not just policy performance — drives institutional legitimacy. — If service‑oriented agencies are durable sources of public trust, politicians and administrators may defensive‑brand technical or controversial functions to preserve legitimacy and avoid politicization.